Improvement in clapboard-gauge



y To all whom itmay concern:

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GEORGE SMITH, OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

. Lette/rs Patent No. 97,452, dated November 30, 1869.

IMPRO'VEMENT IN` CLAPBQARD-GAUGEL The Schedule referred to 1u. these. Letters Patent and makingb pali: of the same Be it known that I, Geenen SMITH, of Omaha, in the county of Douglas, and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olapboard-Gauges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawihgs, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to constructand use my invention, I will proceedv to describe it.

My invention relates to clapboard-gauges, and consists in constructing them of a single bar, with a scale marked thereon, and connecting to this bar a prick, an adjustable hook or` dog, and a lever, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side view of my gauge, showing its construction and manner of operation;

Figure 2 is a cross-section ony the line x-:v of iig. 1; and l Figure 3 is an edge view of the lever detached.

In the construction of clapboard-gauges, it is allimportant that they be so made as to be certain inv their hold, easy to manage, and provided with a scale for accurate and convenient adjustment.

To produce one possessing these requisites, I make a bar, A,v of malleable iron or other suitable material, in the form or shape as clearly shown iu fig. 1, and mark on its side a scale, B, as shown in the same iig-- ure.

The upper end of this bar A, as shown in the ligure, is bent, just above the beginning'of the scale, at right angles, or nearly so, with its length, so as to form a shoulder or rest for a board, F, and then again at right angles, or nearly so, with this last bent port-ion, as shown in said iig. 1, so as to form a guard to prevent the board E from 'slipping from its rest before being nailed to its place.

Upon the bar A, I place a dog, O, so as to slide easilythereon, having provided it with a thumb-screw, b,for attaching it at anypoint desired, and also with a'hook, a, for inseition behind the board G,as shown in said fig. 1. v

The lower end of the bar A, I fork or slot, and pivot therein a lever, D, as shown in said g. 1, and with its head (l shaped as more rclearly shown in tig. 3.

A short distance from the first bend or' angle in they bar A, and to its-front side or face, I attach a prick,- 'E, shaped as clearly shown in figs. 1 and 2, by means of a screw, C, as shown in the same gures..

Having thus constructed my clapboard-guagc, [use it as follows: v

I -iirst set the dog C on the scale, at a point distant from the upper side of the first-bend in the bar A, equal to the width I propose to lay the boards to the weather. `I then lower the handleof the lever D, as shown in dotted lines in fig. 1;'take hold of the gauge near its lower'end with one'hand, and push the hook wunder the last nailed board G, and with the other draw up the handle of the lever, when its head cl will be forced against thev board H below the board G, andcause the prick E to be driven into the latter, and hold the gauge in position, as clearly shown in fig. 1. The clapboard F can then be placed upon it,

and secured to its place, and as soon as this is done,

the gauge can be released, and in like manner attached to support the next'board, and so on.

My gauge, it will be seen, is very simple in its construction, apd can, therefore, be. furnished at a 10W rate, It is not liable to be brokemand is, therefore, durable. The prick E, if it should be injured, is easily replaced. that of slidingthe dog on the bar. It is certain of its hold, and can be managed wthoutthe least diiiiculty.

Having thus described my invention,

Vhat I claim, is-

The clapboard-gauge and holder, as 'herein described, consisting of the single graduated bar B,

formed with the offset at its upper end, and providedA with the spur E, sliding clip G, and lever D, all conlst-ructed and arranged as set forth.

Witnesses: GEORGE SMITH.

BYRON Renn, P. H. REED.

N o adjustments 'are required, except 

